The Seattle Seahawks were supposed to be one of the NFL's top teams this season. That hasn't really worked out, as the team is merely 4-3 through eight weeks and out of first place in the NFC West. Meanwhile, the Oakland Raiders were supposed to be one of the league's worst teams, and that has worked to perfection, as 0-7 Oakland is the league's last winless team. Sunday, the two face off in what appears to be a lopsided game.
Fantasy football start/sit advice, Week 9: Raiders vs. Seahawks
The team that was supposed to be great has merely been good. The team that was supposed to be awful has been awful.
Ezra Shaw
The plus side for the Raiders entering Sunday's game is that the team appears to be fully healthy from a fantasy perspective. The Seahawks have only slightly more to worry about, with tight end Zach Miller out for the fifth-straight game.
The Raiders and Seahawks play Sunday in Seattle at 4:25 p.m. The game doesn’t have a huge amount of fantasy intrigue, but let’s look at what is there:
RAIDERS
Start 'em?: There might not be a whole host of upside for Darren McFadden, but he has put up at least five fantasy points in every game since Week 1. He's a usable flex play. ... It certainly seems like one of James Jones and Andre Holmes will produce in a given game, but good luck figuring out which.
Sit 'em: Against a neutral opponent, you probably don't want to use Derek Carr. Against Seattle in Seattle, you definitely don't. ... Maurice Jones-Drew has been rendered pointless for fantasy. ... Mychal Rivera actually had a reasonably big game in Week 8, but that's after a long string of awful games. ... Sebastian Janikowski has kicked for a couple of decent games lately, but the offense just isn't good enough. ... The Raiders' defense is bad.
SEAHAWKS
Start 'em: You'd like for Russell Wilson to start producing more consistently, but his upside is still enormous and he's a clear starter. ... Marshawn Lynch has had three straight mediocre games, but even his worst performance is six fantasy points, and his upside is much higher. He's a starter. ... Doug Baldwin might not be the most exciting wide receiver, but he's the top receiver in an offense that should score points, and there are a lot of guys on a bye. He belongs in lineups. ... Steven Hauschka hasn't been anywhere near the top kicker in any given week, but he's only put up fewer than seven fantasy points once all season. ... The Seahawks' defense has improved a bit of late, and this week gets a poor offense.
Sit 'em: Zach Miller's absence helps Luke Willson, but not nearly enough.
SUMMARY
Start in every league: Russell Wilson, Marshawn Lynch, Doug Baldwin, Steven Hauschka, Seattle defense
Start if you’re desperate: Darren McFadden, James Jones, Andre Holmes
Bench: Derek Carr, Maurice Jones-Drew, Mychal Rivera, Sebastian Janikowski, Oakland defense, Luke Willson
